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Ángel María Villar: «My honor is to be calm and not spend money or time»

Ángel María Villar Llona (Bilbao, 1950) has interrupted his relaxed neighborhood life for a month, presided over by biblical texts, history books, friends from the bar and football on television. He has been in Qatar throughout the World Cup; in fact, he has seen “almost all the games” live. He says he is “happy” because they have treated him “extraordinarily well”: all expenses paid, fabulous hotels, boxes with caviar. “It is the first time that I go to a world championship without responsibility,” he says in a conversation with ABC. “When I presided over the Federation we had the responsibility of the organization, the management, many things… This time I have only dedicated myself to watching football.” —You have been invited to Qatar in gratitude for your support of the World Cup from the beginning. —The Qatari Federation invited me, because the emir of Qatar asked that all the people who had supported the World Cup at the time be invited. But FIFA also invited me; I am tremendously grateful that they have remembered me and other people. I have been privileged. And I have also been surprised by the number of ex-soccer players and soccer people who have come to ask me how I am and how I make a living now (with the assets seized, what their wife earns and a pension of 2,400 euros). —You supported the World Cup in Qatar when many voices warned that it was a mistake, for organizational, meteorological and political reasons. What is your evaluation of the championship? “It has been a huge success. Whoever speaks ill of Qatar must be very anti. The full stadiums, the marvelous public, some excellent professionals, everything… —Hasn’t the rejection of homosexuals bothered you, for example? —I think about football, not about other issues. When I was presented with the candidacy, 12 years ago, I had my doubts. But later, with the knowledge of the possibilities that I had, the fact that the venues were so close and you could watch four games a day… I cleared them. Argentina, for example, has always been in the same headquarters; they have not had to make trips of 500 or 600 kilometers. France too. After seeing this success, I am very satisfied with my vote. I want what is best for football, not just for FIFA. Football is universal, it is one of the few things that still is in this world… I think we have succeeded. Of the ones I’ve seen, this has been the best World Cup. I want to congratulate Argentina, and also France. His friend Josep Blatter, who also supported Qatar at the time, has described it as a “big mistake.” —It is Mr Blatter’s opinion. I disagree. —Not even because of the number of deceased workers or the international legitimacy of a country where fundamental freedoms are not respected? —I, in the institutions in which I have worked, have always looked for the improvement of this sport. It is not for me to prosecute other elements; represented Spanish football and FIFA. The World Cup has been a success, and it really is not up to me to judge other elements. I am not here to comment on that… Are you interviewing me for being a Spanish citizen or for being the former president of the Spanish Football Federation? —For the second. —I have my opinion as a man, but here I must express myself according to my responsibilities. “Did you like Qatari society?” The situation of women, for example? —I have heard lots of things in Spain, through the media. What I have seen, in person, is that the Qatari woman is a prepared woman, with certain values ​​that I highlight. For example; She is religious, she is the mother of a family, she takes her children to all events, she is a true wife, she is intelligent, she is elegant, and she is also pretty! —Do you also observe these qualities in Spanish women? They are different cultures. I dare not compare my culture with another. It serves as a lesson for me and I have seen it very positive —You seem to agree then with Gianni Infantino’s speech about “the hypocrisy” of the West with respect to the Arab world. —I agree with Gianni Infantino on many things. —The absence of responsibilities has allowed him to watch more football than ever. What assessment do you make of the performance of Spain and the ‘tiki-taka’ that he exalted during his presidency? —I have been in all the parties of Spain. I know what I know about soccer; there are many technical specialists. We were world champions because we had that way of playing and some impressive footballers, and because those great players were humble. And there is still a player from that time, which is Busquets, a tremendously successful and humble man. He blesses that way of playing. What if he has surpassed himself or not? I ask you: Was Morocco superior to Spain? I do not think so. We tied and lost on penalties. Like France, or Holland. There is great equality. —His friend Javier Clemente has said that Morocco-Spain was a match between men and children. — He was a great selector, and he is a man who loves me. It is an expression of his, and there are many people who think the same. “You among them?” —I am more in defense of the players and the national team. They did what they could and delivered everything. —Do you think it is correct for a national coach to change the colors of the team’s clothing? —The formula of competing covers everything, even clothing. In the event that it is true, which I do not know, it will have its reasons, which I do not know. —Did you greet the members of the team during the championship? —To leaders and employees who were there. — And the coach or the players? “I didn’t get a chance. They have plenty of concerns. —Of all the World Cups prior to 2010, in which do you think you were closest to victory? — The one in 1994, in the United States… When Tassoti nudged Luis Enrique. I remember an anecdote from that day. We were very screwed… And one from FIFA comes to me and says: “Angel, why don’t you denounce the attack on the Italian player.” So, I answered him: «Have you been a footballer? We, the players, what we do on the pitch we forget in the shower… Report it yourself.” For me that has been forgotten. Both the Italian and the Spanish players could do things; the Italian did. What am I going to denounce him for? —Do you trust the VAR? -Yes but no. —The new national coach is another former Athletic player, like you, Luis de la Fuente. As in the case of the women’s team, this is a coach with no professional experience. What is your assessment of this sporting strategy? —I do not enter to assess the current situation, I do not know it well. I wanted to hire Luis Enrique for the lower teams when he wasn’t so well known. He was a ‘baby’. And he told me no. He thought that he could become the absolute coach. Luis de la Fuente was hired for the lower categories in my time. I wish him a lot of luck and success, which is not easy at all. He has experience in the lower categories and knows the house well, which is very important. The house trainer moves in another way. The one who comes from abroad has the experience of the big teams, but he brings inexperience to the house. Related News standard Yes INTERVIEW (The Trans Law in sport Alba Palacios: «Because of hormones you don’t perform like when you were a man» Pedro Cifuentes standard Yes Women’s soccer Who is Jorge Vilda, the ogre of the rioters? Pedro Cifuentes —Luis Rubiales It has taken much less time than you to make headlines for non-sporting matters. Even your traditional ex-enemy Javier Tebas repeats that he is doing you good… —Well, then Mr. Tebas is insulting both Rubiales and me. I have certain virtues, like defects; one of them is understanding, Our position is difficult, it is criticized enormously, it is mistreated, slandered. Lawsuits are filed to discredit, which are later archived, money from the State is spent with false complaints… It I have lived it all. And they are living it. Really, how difficult it is to be president of the Spanish Football Federation. —You, unlike Rubiales, did not file complaints with anyone. —This man and I we are very different. -What assessment do you make of his management? —If I paid attention to everything that has been said about me that has not been true… Why am I not going to think that the things that are said about this president are also lies? The logical thing is that you think the same… —After spending years banned from Spanish social and sports life, you seem to be witnessing a slow rehabilitation of your figure while the investigation of the only (but great) cause that remains to you, Operation Soule (an alleged plot to divert public and private funds). How do you live this moment? —I have received 22 lawsuits and filed 21 since 1988. I have one left. I think that Justice is acting normally, because I am famous. —Are you concerned that the General State Intervention has detected 267 million “not adequately justified” in your last stage at the helm of the Federation? “You have misunderstood.” It is not real nor does it resemble it. The interpretation of the information made by the media is not correct. One thing is that it is written and another is reality. But why am I going to file a complaint that is going to cost me time and money… And talking to my friends about healthy and normal things. Do not go to court because four ‘cantinflas’ journalists have said that we have not justified millions because an expert has said so. The report itself excuses itself: “Without having seen the documents.” Why not write about it? Because there would be no news. Look… In the end I haven’t had any luck, but I’m happy.

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